Sending light rail inland would have many benefits

I RECALL when the Gold Coast was 35km long and two blocks wide. This was literally true before amalgamation included the former Albert Shire into our current city boundaries.

That was when the Gold Coast Highway had no other place to go but down the guts of the strip, because everything inland was swamp and flood plain till you got to Mudgeeraba.

The floodplain is still there, but engineering expertise has lifted house pads above estimated flood levels in the vast 300sq km of flood-liable lands. All the lakes and canals of those inner suburbs have certainly limited public transport options, so let’s use what we’ve got to get the best possible outcome for our community.

If a flood-free, light-rail route could run through the flood plain, it would be a handy bonus for the next wave of flood and cyclone emergencies. Such a solution would have many more tangible benefits, too: traffic conflict minimised, space constraints overcome, waterways bridged at similar elevation, most efficient speeds between stops, least risk of pedestrian and vehicle accidents, avoidance of gridlock delays, even attractive vistas for users.

Costs would be far less for resumptions and widening of routes, not to mention much less disruption to business and the community during construction and groundworks phases.

The higher costs of a raised route would be offset to a certain degree by these savings.

That way we work with our environment, recognising the needs of the inland suburbs to gain better transport infrastructure, business and community benefits from potential growth opportunities and we give our community a lasting and future benefit.

And if we cover the trackway with solar panels, we could generate enough power to run the system carbon free.

Come on, state and local pollies, get your imagination on and do something of lasting good for our city and our future. CHRISTOPHER SMITH, CONCERNED BURLEIGH RESIDENT